Goodbye...but I'll be back!

[skimpy]

Thank you for serving our country Chad. Be safe God bless.

[leahcim_dahc]

Thanks for all the support, it means alot!!

Got back from a month long AT at YTC a couple days ago. I ended up getting transferred to another troop before we left. I was a touch nervous, however I think it will be just fine. I was told the possibility of my transfer a day before I was to report...which didn't make me all that happy. But what are you gonna do? With my departure from my old troop, it opened up a slot for someone to get promoted...and of course I got or will get a promotion, as well. I've already filled out my counseling statements and the paperwork has been pushed up to Brigade, when I return from my week off...I should pick up my E6, or at least that's the rumor.

So far the new troop isn't all that bad. I think the biggest challenge is the fact the troop is made up of many different MOS's and not just 19D's. There are medics, truck drivers, commo, mechanics, fisters, infantry...you name it, we got it. For the most part the soldiers that are scouts, or even infantry are fairly squared away. But don't get me wrong, those who don't have combat arms related MOS's are really trying to learn, and are quite motivated to learn. Whether we are training on breaching obstacles, MOUT, and even working on gunnery skills...they are moving with a sense of purpose. There are a couple who bring up the rear on a regular basis, but I have a couple months to whip them into shape...so I am not too worried, just yet.

Another new aspect of the troop is we are now working with females. Which isn't that big of deal...but being a cavalry scout...I normally don't work with females. Having females around has been quite interesting to say the least. One is a hard charger and is as capable as any other soldier to get the job done, another that is fairly ditsy and reminds me of Pvt. Benjamin, and our last is very young and at times quite naive. I think by the time we arrive in theater...they'll be ready.

All in all, I am looking forward to working with my new troops. It will of course be quite a challenge, from a leadership perspective, but I think will be worth it in the long run. There are times when I think to myself, especially when they do something retarded, or are acting like goofballs, the only difference between my children at home and my squad...is my squad has firearms. There are always going to be those times when I just shake my head and walk away thinking..."What the hell have I got myself into this time...". They're not all that bad...just a little challenged... :-D

Anyrate...hope everyone is doing well. Take care.

[kevinb]

Hey Chad

Great to hear from you.Good luck on your promotion to E-6. Get back here soon and take care.
Kevin

[Aaron]

Chad,

One of my best friends is deploying with you. PFC Andrew Phipps. I think he's a medic, and probably a bit of a goofball. Know him?

[BassinBomber]

Prayers will be with you and your family Chad,..be safe and watch your 6!

BB

[Marc Martyn]

Chad,
Clowning around in non life threatening situations is a way of releasing nervous pent up energy. I had a crew in Guam that I swear was half nuts.:compress: :bounce: When the pressure was on and a job had to be completed on time they performed tremendously. I wouldn't have traded any of them. They really knew their stuff and applied it perfectly. Your troops will do the same, don't worry.

[leahcim_dahc]

Chad,

One of my best friends is deploying with you. PFC Andrew Phipps. I think he's a medic, and probably a bit of a goofball. Know him?

Aaron-
I don't recognize the name, right off. Do you know what unit he is assigned to? Not sure how many we have throughout the squadron or brigade for that matter...but I know it's quite a few. In our platoon, I think we have maybe eight medics. Whether they are transferring from another state or organic to the brigade. This seems to be the consensus throughout the squadron...not sure about the brigade as a whole.


Marc-
I hear what you're saying. They're a good bunch of troopers...I don't mind the antics once in a while. I told them they just need to work on their timing. It's kind of hard to explain to the 1SG why someone ran screaming and giggling like 12 yr old school girl out the back door with a stuffed animal and someone chasing them....especially when they are conducting a 1SG meeting outside the barracks.

[Anonymous]

I'm really not sure about his unit. The thing that caught my eye was that he got back from YTC a few days ago and came over yesterday and told me a story just like yours. Here's a pic:

[Marc Martyn]

Marc-
I hear what you're saying. They're a good bunch of troopers...I don't mind the antics once in a while. I told them they just need to work on their timing. It's kind of hard to explain to the 1SG why someone ran screaming and giggling like 12 yr old school girl out the back door with a stuffed animal and someone chasing them....especially when they are conducting a 1SG meeting outside the barracks.

Stuffed animal? Hmmmmm..... you do have a point there. Good luck!o:)

[leahcim_dahc]

Marc-
The stuffed animal belongs to one of the before mentioned females. While she was participating in our "Spur Ride", a couple of the guys swiped her camera phone, stuffed tiger, and took provocative photos of the stuffed tiger being bent over a bunk by a stuffed bear. Apparently, they must have been bored...they had photos of the bear at the PX buying alcohol, passed out along the curb, digging in the trash...in the showers (again, with the tiger)...the bear at the PX getting a hair cut...the bear strung up in a noose...the bear throwing up in a toilet...the bear doing rollover drills in a HMMWV. You name it...the bear was there. Apparently, the bear and tiger got around the block a time or two...

Aaron-
Unfortunately, I don't recognize him. He's probably attached to a unit on the eastside, or one of the other various units throughout the brigade. 1/161Inf., 1/303d Cavalry Regiment, 2/146 FA, 181BSB, etc., etc..

[Marc Martyn]

Well Chad, you have to admit that has a degree of humor to it. From the way you describe it, all harmless fun though.

In the service, we once switched out a guys clothes that only stood 5'3" with a set of clothes with from a guy that stood 6'5". From that point on he learned a valuable lesson......always lock your locker! Shaving cream in boots, boots glued to the floor, short sheeting all come with the territory. All in fun and offer relief from the insanity in the world.

[leahcim_dahc]

Oh, yeah...I got a pretty good laugh over it.

In the service, we once switched out a guys clothes that only stood 5'3" with a set of clothes with from a guy that stood 6'5". From that point on he learned a valuable lesson......always lock your locker! Shaving cream in boots, boots glued to the floor, short sheeting all come with the territory. All in fun and offer relief from the insanity in the world.

That's too funny!! Would have been a heck of a sight during formation!!

I think the only prank that was pulled on me, was I got tied to my bunk by my belt with 550 cord when I fell asleep one afternoon. Someone yelled "At Ease!!", I leaped up out of my blissful slumber only to be darn near pulled in half by my belt. Wasn't happy at first...but couldn't help but laugh at myself as I fumbled around trying to untie myself.

[Marc Martyn]

If you can say, where are you now? The internet is great, isn't it.

[leahcim_dahc]

If you can say, where are you now? The internet is great, isn't it.

Right now I am stationed at Ft. Living Room....

J/K...I am home right now...I have the next week off, then we fly out to Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin for a couple months...then we take the plane ride across the big pond. From what I understand, we should have internet access there, as well. Whether I have time to use it or not...hard to say. On a brighter note...I did a map recon of our FOB...there's a nice river that skirts the north side of the base. Whether it will have any water in it when I get there...who knows. Some reading I have done, it is supposedly dry most of the year, except during the rainy season...hopefully there's water around when I get there.

[Marc Martyn]

If you can say, where are you now? The internet is great, isn't it.

Right now I am stationed at Ft. Living Room....

Too funny! At least there aren't any IED's there:thumright Unless of course, if you have kids, you have to look out for the plastic toys in the toaster, binkies in the dogs water dish and the rubber duckies in the toilet.

[leahcim_dahc]

Hello everyone!! Been some time since I have been able to login and surf around the forums...thought I'd login and see what's up.

We're finishing up our training cycle here at Ft. McCoy and will be heading out here in the next week or so. Right now I am on a 4-day pass. Just hanging out with the wifey in Minnesota (somewhere around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area).

Most of the training I have done deals mostly with convoy logistics patrols, mounted combat patrols, urban operations (MOUT), and various assorted other items. Nothing too exciting happened during training. We completed gunnery, participated in a handful of live fire exercises...and did lots of route recons looking for IED's, conducting battle drills, etc., etc..

Anyrate, hopefully everyone is in good spirits and fishing like there's no tomorrow. Once I get in country, I'll be sure to drop a line.


Chad

[Dave]

Hey Chad,

Good to hear you are well. It is wet here in Washington and fishing, at least trout in local lakes, is still slow in most places. Water temp is around 63 degrees. The silvers are running now in the rivers but seem to have lock jaw despite the few that have been caught including one by yours truly a few weeks back in the Snohomish River. We are hoping the rain this week will help the bite. Anyway, I saw you posted and wanted to say hi and wish you well. Be safe.

Dave

[Rollin with Rolland]

good to hear things are well leahcim_dahc at Ft. McCoy. Yep, wet and cold. Some decent fall fishing though. Winter storm warning for tomorrow, up to 8" of snow at 4000ft where I'm at. Anyway, if you are looking to do some fun exploring with the little lady in the MSP area, may I throw out a suggestion?? Check out Stillwater, MN. right on the St.Croix river, at the MN/WI border. About 45 min. east of St. Paul. A small quaint river town with good walking, shopping (generally liked by the ladies), and dining. Probably great fall colors this time of the year also. Very nice. (maybe check this out Train tour )

Have fun, be safe.

[physher92]

cannnot tell you how much I appreciate your bravery and courage and wilingness to go! God bless you and come home safe!

[A9]

Hope all goes well on your deployment and you make it home safe....